(Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images)
Since I regrettably am not a hockey fanatic, I cannot spend my time dissecting each team like I did for NBA. The difference between the two leagues is NBA players are well-known while the NHL has more of a team nucleus.
Even fanatics don't know the third line defense man (for a team other than their own). Instead, I will write a paragraph about each team, mostly their star players and their style (offensive team or defensive or fantastic goalie).
Eastern Conference Finals: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Game 1 recap here.
Game 1 recap here.
Pittsburgh Penguins
First of all, I did my homework on these teams. So yes, Sidney Crosby is on fire right now. It doesn't take a genius to figure out scoring 12 goals in 13 games is nothing short of amazing. Not only is he scoring goals, but he has also dished 10 assists in the series. All in all, he has accounted for 22 of 48 goals for the Penguins.
Evgeni Malkin is no slouch either of course. Along with his seven goals, he has racked up 14 assists as well. It's a big deal that two players on the same team account for 90 percent of their teams' goals, right?
The other factor is goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. He needs to be as good, if not better, than Game 7 of the Conference Semifinals and Game 1 against the Hurricanes. He was mediocre at best before those two performances. It really shouldn't be a surprise that when he allows three goals or less, he has a 9-2 record. When he allows more than three goals, he has a 0-3 record. So if he allows three goals or less, than Pittsburgh has a good shot with the offense they have.
Carolina Hurricanes
First off, I have to mention the biggest surprise thus far in the playoffs is Jussi Jokinen. Did anybody know he needs just one goal to tie the amount he had in the regular season?. He had seven goals in 2008-2009 season. He has six in the playoffs so far. So right off the bat, there is one reason for their surprise run.
Cam Ward has been inexplicably on fire as well for the Hurricanes. He may be 8-7, but he only has a 2.22 GAA. He has five games in which he has allowed one goal or less (one in which he lost). He also recorded two shutouts.
Now, Carolina has a clear objective heading into this series.
SCORE.
First off, all seven games they lost, Carolina failed to reach three goals. Only once did they win when scoring less than that. Other than Jokinen, Eric Staal
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